According to a report on NATO's deterrence drawn up by the Riigikogu's National Defence Committee, it is necessary in the medium to long-term perspective to station an allied brigade-size unit fit for battle in each of the three Baltic States.

The security environment of NATO's eastern neighborhood, which had become more important in the recent years, needed long-term solutions to strengthen the alliance's collective defense, the report stated.

The report's authors said that NATO's deterrence and defense of member states needed real strengthening, and that NATO's deterrence principles were in need of an upgrade. To guarantee the sustainability of the alliance's collective defense and the development of its capabilities, NATO's European allies needed to contribute more to defense cooperation.

To strengthen deterrence, NATO's permanent presence on the Baltic Sea had to be achieved in cooperation with the allies, the report stated. In addition, the alliance needed to move from the Baltic air policing mission to an air defense mission, namely by increasing the number of allied air force units and military aircraft in the region, while at the same time implementing an adequate air defense system.

British infantry unit to be stationed in Estonia?

National Defence Committee chairman Marko Mihkelson (IRL) said that though it hadn’t been agreed on in detail which ally's forces would be stationed where, he considered it more or less certain that it would be decided at the upcoming Warsaw summit that a British infantry battalion would be stationed in Estonia.

"At the same time we also know that several other countries, for instance Denmark, are working toward stepping up their presence in Estonia as well as in the other two Baltic States. These details are being discussed at the moment," Mihkelson added.